Kannur (also known by its Anglicized name of Cannanore), is a port city in the far north of Kerala. Kannur is famous for its pristine beaches, its native performing art Theyyam, and its handloom industry. One of the main attractions here is St. Angelo's Fort which was built in 1505 by the first Portuguese Viceroy of India. The fort changed hands several times including a sacking by the Dutch in 1663 and a more seemly transition when it was sold to the Arakkal royal family in 1772. The British then conquered the Fort in 1790 and transformed it into one of their major military stations on the Malabar Coast. It is fairly well preserved as a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.
This area is known for dance form known as Theyyam where the performers of the dance are regarded as gods.It is a ritualistic dance form with a surreal representation of the divine that can be observed at the temples in this region.Worshippers come forward towards the dancers for a blessing.